A total of over $6 million will be used for over 150 projects across BC to enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitats. The money is coming from Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, a non-profit organization created by the government and supported financially by surcharges on hunting and fishing licenses.
In Powell River, $123,000 of the money will go toward three projects mainly devoted to monitoring wildlife populations. The Roosevelt elk recovery project will see $64,000. The project has been working toward reestablishing elk populations around Powell River over the past 18 years. The money is earmarked for monitoring the places where elk were relocated to see how the populations are doing.
“It’s fabulous finding money to do that,” said Powell River Conservation Officer Andrew Anaka. “It provides some employment and this information goes back to government biologists to help set population trends and better understand our biodiversity.”
A further $42,700 will be used for monitoring the grizzly bear population in Knight and Bute inlets. This long-term project will provide data on population trends that will help set goals for hunting. Anaka said there isn’t a good handle on grizzly bear populations in the province and so the information from this project will be helpful.
The remaining $16,700 will be used for habitat enhancement and monitoring for wetland animals on the Sunshine Coast, such as salamanders, newts and toads. Anaka isn’t sure exactly what areas around Powell River will be included, but the project will focus on surveying wetlands.
The projects will be carried out by “some of BC’s best qualified wildlife biologists, fisheries scientists and volunteer groups,” according to a press release. Since 1981 the foundation has put over $130 million into more than 2,700 projects.
